Ukraine conflict entering “frozen” phase, says Slovak Foreign Minister

Things are moving in the wrong direction in the southeast of Ukraine, as the conflict is now moving from a latent to a frozen phase, stated Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák after meeting the foreign affairs ministers of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Ukraine in Kyiv on Tuesday. "The fact that the south-eastern part has separated [from Ukraine] has resulted in the nationalising of enterprises and the recognition of documents and legal acts on the part of the Russian Federation. A new reality has thus emerged, so we spoke about what can be done to prevent this and to ensure that these territories remain an integral part of Ukraine," said Lajčák. He added that Minsk agreements are the only plan that currently exists, and this is a good basis for addressing the situation in Ukraine. Lajčák's visit to Kyiv forms part of a regular dialogue that Slovakia leads with the neighbouring country. Partly for this reason Slovakia wants Ukraine to be stable, pro-European and prosperous.